Mouth-closing device



Sept. 5, 1939. w. s. MOORE MOUTH-CLOSING DEVICE Filed April 4, 1958IfiNVENTOR.

ATZTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Glaims.

This invention relates to devices to be utilized by undertakers andembalmers for holding the jaws and mouth of a corpse in place, and alsofor holding the lips closed and in proper position. More specifically,the present invention is directed to an improved device of this naturewhich more securely holds the jaws and lips in position and helps theembalmer to impart a more natural expression to the mouth.

In preparing a corpse for burial, it usually is necessary to employ somemeans for holding the jaws closed. The jaw securing operation isperformed before embalming so that the jaws and mouth are held inposition during the embalming process, after which the jaws becomepermanently set in position because of stiffening of the joints.

One of the customary practices employed for securing the jaws has beenthe use of pointed devices driven into the bony structure of the jaws orbetween the teeth. The anchoring devices are applied to the upper andlower jaw and hold the jaws together by means of a cord or wire wrappedor snubbed around the two projecting instrumentalities. Anotherexpedient commonly employed has been to secure the jaws by a line ofsutures or stitching in the gum tissue at the front of the jaws. Thisprocedure, for obvious reasons, necessitates a very tedious andunpleasant operation.

While the use of pointed fastening devices has been reasonablysuccessful, the operation necessarily is a difficult one. Moreover, theuse of projecting devices in the jaws forms protruding areas under thelips which are difficult to conceal and because of which it is difficultto impart the proper expression to the mouth.

A similar difficulty prevails with respect to the stitching method offastening, since the soft tissues readily bunch between the loops ofthread formed in stitching. In addition to this, the

result of this method is uncertain since the moisture which is presenteventually saturates the thread and permits it to stretch.

The device of the present invention provides a thin metallic two-piecestructure which is quickly and easily applied to the mouth between thejaws and lips and conforms to the curvature of the laws so that itspresence is readily concealed. The device includes a pair of anchoringhooks or spurs and is anchored simply by inserting the anchoring hooksinto the tissue of the. upper and lower jaws at the point where thetissue of the gums joins with the lips. The structure adjustably drawsand holds the jaws together and provides a tenacious securing means bothfor the lips and for the jaws which has no protruding parts and whichdoes not cause bunching of the tissue at the points of anchorage. a

The mouth adjusting device, in addition to holding the lips and jaws inclosed position, is provided with means for adjusting the lips in properposition relative to the jaws. After a body has been embalmed, there isa tendency for the tissues to shrink. This is especially true of thefleshy portions of the lips and occasionally when this occurs, the lipsbecome parted. The present device not only sets the lips in position inthe first instance, but permits the embalmer to readjust the lips shouldparting or sagging occur after the device has been applied.

The present device is made up of two cooperating parts, a jaw closingunit and a lip-securing unit. The jaw closing unit comprises a thinductile strip of metal having anchoring hooks at opposite ends which areadapted to be embedded in the connecting tissues between the gums andlips of the upper and lower jaws. After having been anchored inposition, a portion of the strip is then doubled or folded over bymanipulation of a crimping key which is applied over the strip for thispurpose. The folding or crimping of a portion of the strip shortensitslength, thereby drawing the jaws closely together, with the lower jawfirmly in position.

The lip securing device comprises a plate which is applied over the jawclamping member and clinched thereto. The lip clamping plate includes aseries of tangs which are pressed into 35 and embedded in the lips fromthe inside, with the plate lying against the teeth. In applying theplate, the lips are placed over it so as to appear as nearly natural aspossible and the lips are then pressed down over the anchoring tangs andimpaled in this position.

It has been an object of the present invention to provide a jaw andmouth fastening device which-is easily applied and adjusted and whichserves to hold the jaws and lips respectively in properly relatedposition.

It has been another object to provide a device which not only holds themouth and lips in position, but which additionally permits adjustment ofthe lips (relative to each other) after the body has been embalmed.

Another object of the invention has been to provide a device for closingand securing the jaws, and a cooperating lip closing member extended thefull width of the mouth which is secured and adjustably related to thejaw clamping element to permit the set of the mouth to be adjustedrelative to the jaws after the jaws has been closed and fastened.

A further object has been to provide a device of the characterindicated, substantially universal as to fit and adaptability, andapplicable to various types and sizes of jaws, with natural as well asartificial teeth, and brought easily to the desired contour afterinstallation to achieve and maintain a natural and desirable positioningof the lips and jaws.

Still another object of the invention has been to provide a device forthe specified purposes which may be formed by a dieing operation forinexpensive production, and in addition, which is formed of twocooperating members, one or the other of which may be dispensed withshould its application be unwarranted or undesirable in a given case.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully setforth in the drawing and description forming a part of the specificationin which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the jaw closure and locking member.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view detailing the structure of oneof the hook portions of the jaw closure member.

Figure 3 is a view looking toward the pointed edge of the hook portion.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the crimping or looking key.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the same.

Figure 6 is a front view of the lip securing plate.

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on line ll, Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a general view showing the jaw clamping device and the lipsecuring plate positioned in the mouth of the corpse.

Figures 9 to 12 inclusive illustrate the various successive steps inapplying the devices.

Figure 13 is an enlarged detailed view in cross section showing thedevice applied to the mouth.

Referring specifically to the drawing, the jaw clamping element isindicated generally at l5 and-the lip clinching plate at l6. These twomembers are applied to the mouth separately, but after application areclinched together to form a unitary element. For this purpose, the jawclamping element is provided with a pair of clamping tangs ll which areadapted to register with a "pair of slots I8 in the lip clamping plate.The tangs H are adapted to project through the slots l8 and be folded orclinched over the outer surface of the lip clinching plate, thus holdingthe two members together.

The jaw clamping member comprises a relatively narrow strip of ductilemetal which may be of soft steel or aluminum or any other appropriatematerial which is easily bent or folded. The clamping element, asillustrated, is formed of a single strip of metal by a dieing orstamping operation although, if desired, the hooks could be formedseparately, and later attached to the strip. The specific constructionof the members is not essential to the present invention, as anyappropriate design having a pair of jaw engaging members and a bendableshank member could be utilized without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The hooks indicated at [9 are adapted to be embedded in the tissues asdescribed in the foregoing paragraphs and for this purpose, are providedwith sharpened points indicated at 20. The proper hook, or piercingelement, constitutes a relatively straight anchoring spur 2! so as toavoid bunching of the tissues which might otherwise occur if the edge 2|of the spur were rounded. The spur edge may be provided with a slightflange 22, as indicated on Figures 2 and 3, to avoid cutting the tissueswhen pressure is applied on the hook. In order further to stiffen thehook, a rib 23, coextensive with the rounded portion of the hook andextended into the shank of the strip, may be applied. This rib is in thenature of a corrugation in the cross section of the hook and thereforeadds a degree of stiffness to the hook. The shank portion !5A of the jawclamping device, as previously mentioned, is a soft or ductile metalstrip, readily bent or deformed. This bendin or deforming occurs afterthe clamp-ing element has been applied.

Referring to Figure 9 of the drawing, which illustrates the first stepin' applying the device, the opposite end hooks are shown embedded inthe tissues adjacent the gums and the clinching key in place on thestrip prior to the folding or crimping of the strip. The key, which'isindicated at 24, comprises a shank 25 and a finger gripping portion 26.The end of the shank is slotted as at 2? for insertion over the strip.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be noted that the split portion of thekey is of diamond configuration in cross section. The opposite edges ofthe diamond configuration at right angles to the axis of the slot, aresharpened as at 22. The purpose of this arrangement is to facilitate thebending of the strip and to provide for the forming of a substantiallyflat fold in the strip when the key is twisted. Upon reference toFigures 10 and'13, showing the stripafter folding and crimping, it willbe noted that this crimped portion of the strip lies upon the surface ofthe lower teeth.

Since the upper teeth usually overhang the lower teeth, the strip isenabled to lie in 'a relatively fiat plane across the teeth with thecrimp or fold positioned beneath the overhang of the upper teeth. Inorder to provide this configuration,

the key upon insertion over the strip, is'turned in acounter-clockwisedirection with the key in place, as shown on Figure 9.In cases where the lower jaw overhangs the upper jaw, the procedure isreversed so as to dispose the fold or crimp on the upper teeth adjacentthe protruding lower teeth.

It will be noted, upon reference to Figure 9, that the teeth areslightly parted before clinching or folding of the strip. ing of the keyresults in a winding or shortening of the length of the jaw clampingstrip, thus drawing the jaws together to bring the teeth firmly intocontact with each other as in Figure 10. After this operation, the lipclamping plate if: is applied over the jaw clamp with the tangs ll ofthe jaw clamp in registry and projecting through the slots it of the lipclamping plate. After the plate i6 is in place, the tangs I! are foldedtoward each other over the outer face of The winding or turnlips in thearea over the tangs 29 of the plate, thus piercing and securing the lipsin place. 9

Referring to Figure 6, it will be noted that the plate is provided witha number of tangs 29; in this instance, four on the upper and four onthe lower portions of the plate, although the exact number orarrangement may be varied. The tangs are triangular in shape and projectfrom the face of the plate exposing the sharpened point at the apex ofthe angular side edges. In this instance the tangs are stuck out'fromthe plate and are integral with the body of the plate, although ifdesired, the tangs could be formed along the edges of the plate tofacilitate manufacture and to reduce the size of the plate. The tangsare disposed nearly at right angles with respect to the plane of theplate, however, with a slight angularity toward each other, so thatpulling of the lips will cause the tangs to become more deeply embedded.Since the flat sides of the tangs provide the holding surfaces, there isvery little tendency for the tangs to tear or cut the tissues uponstretching or pulling of the lips. The body of the plate is providedwith a pair of apertures indicated at 30 which may be utilized to holdthe plate in position by lacing wires or cords through the apertureswhen such fastening means for the jaws is desirable.

In order to allow the plate to conform closely to the curvature of thejaws, the plate is provided with cut out portions for the purpose offacilitating the bending of the plate. In this instance the plate isweakened by means of lateral slots 3| and a notch 32 at the upper edgealong the central transverse axis of the plate. These weakened portionsand the fact that the plate is made of thin ductile metal permit theplate to be pressed in place over the teeth and jaws to conform closelyto the outline of the jaws. In this manner, the lip clamping plate andthe jaw locking member conform naturally to the shape of the mouth, andalso, because they are very thin and readily concealed under the lips,their presence will not be apparent to the casual observer. Thedisclosure is intended to exemplify a preferred form of lip clampingplate. It will be evident that the shape of the plate and the forms andarrangement of tangs could be varied without departing from the spiritof the invention.

The fact that the lip clinching plate may be shifted or adjusted up ordown relative to the jaw clamping member permits the operator to arrangethe parting line of the lips relative to the jaws to obtain the mostnatural effect.

As previously mentioned, shrinkage occasionally occurs in the tissues,sometimes several days after embalming, causing the lips to partslightly. Should this occur, it is a simple matter for the operator tobring the lips to their former position merely by manipulating the tangs29 from the outside of the mouth. The procedure consists in pinching thetangs toward each other between the fingers to draw the lips togetherand into contact. The design of the lip clamping plate provides a veryeffective control over the form of the lips since the holding tangs arein close proximity to the edge or parting line of the lips. The lips areheld firmly, and clamped against any change in position.

The jaw clamping element is simple and easy to apply, and will functionequally well with natural or false teeth since the anchoring element isembedded, or anchored, in the tissue rather than in the teeth or bonystructure of the jaws. The folding or crimping of the strip facilitatesthe operation of drawing the jaws together and, additionally, makes thestrip inherently adjustable. As the strip is wound or crimped, ashortening occurs which draws the jaws together. This may be variedaccording to the size of the mouth or the length of the teeth by varyingthe number of folds given to the strip, or, in other words, by varyingthe amount of winding or turning of the crimping key. After having beencrimped, the folded or crimped portion of the strip is flattened bypressure of the finger against the strip, smoothing it out against thelower teeth.

Although'this is the preferred method of application, in some cases, itmay be more convenient to fold the strip with the fingers afterapplication. ,This may be done by forming a partial fold centrally ofthe strip and then anchoring or embedding the strip in the tissues, and,after this has been done, placing the partially bent portion of thestrip between the fingers and completing the fold or crimp, then foldingthe same flatly against the lower teeth. From the foregoing, it will beevident that in either case the operation is quite simple andfurthermore is mechanically expedient since the jaw clamping means isdistinct from the lip holding plate, permitting adjustment .between thetwo parts, independent of each other so that the lips may be positionedrelative to the jaws in order to procure the desired appearance. In someinstances either the jaw closing element or the lip clamping device maybe unnecessary. In such cases, the unnecessary element may be dispensedwith since the elements will function equally well either incombination, or independent of each other.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for closing the jaws and lips of a corpse comprising ananchoring element adapted to be engaged in the tissue of the upper andlower jaws, means for shortening said anchoring element to draw the jawstogether, a lip clamp ing plate, means for securing said lip clampingplate to said jaw closing device, and means on said lip clamping plateadapted to be engaged in the tissue of the lips.

2. A device for closing the jaws and lips of a corpse comprising aductile strip of metal, anchoring means on opposite ends of said strip,said means adapted to be engaged in the tissue of the upper and lowerjaws and a member secured to said strip and adapted to be engaged in thetissue of both upper and'lower lips.

3. A device for clamping the jaws and lips of a corpse comprising anelongated ductile strip of metal, anchoring hooks at opposite ends ofsaid strip, said hooks adapted to engage the jaws, one or a plurality ofclamping tangs on said strip, a lip clamping plate, said plate beingengaged by said clamping tangs, and means on said plate to engage thelips.

4. A device for clamping the jaws and lips of a corpse comprising thecombination of a jaw clamping element and a lip clamping element, saidjaw clamping element having anchor means at opposite ends adapted toengage the tissue of the upper and lower jaws, means for drawing saidanchoring elements together, securing means on said lip clampingelement, said means adapted to secure said jaw clamping element and lipclamping element together, and means on said lip clamping element forpiercing and securing the lips.

5. A jaw clamping element for securing the jaws of a corpse'comprisingan elongated strip of ductile metal, a pair of anchoring elements, oneat 'each end of said strip, whereby upon engagement of said respectiveanchoring elements with the upper and lower jaws, respectively, saidstrip is adapted to be crimped or folded to draw the jaws permanentlytogether.

6. A device for closing and clamping the jaws and lips of a corpsecomprising a jaw clamping device and a cooperating lip clamping device,said jaw clamping device adapted to be engaged in the upper and lowerjaws respectively to secure the same, and said cooperating lip clampingdevice adapted to be engaged in the upper and lower lips to secure thelips, cooperating fastening means on said jaw clamping device and saidlip clamping device, said means adapted to adjustably secure said lipclamping device to said jaw clamping device to permit adjustment of thelip clamping device relative to said jaw clamping device.

7. A device for closing and clamping the jaws of a corpse comprising abody formed of a strip -of ductile material, a pair of anchoring spurson said'body, said spurs located at opposite ends of said body andadapted to be engaged in the upper and lower jaws respectively, and saidbody strip adapted to be crimped or folded to shorten the length of thesame and thereby draw and clamp the jaws together 8. A device forclosing the jaws of a corpse and maintaining them in closed position,comprising a thin strip of ductile material, anchoring elementspositioned at either end of said strip and adapted to'engage in thetissue of the upper and lower jaws respectively, said strip beingadapted to be distorted around the middle portion thereof to shorten thesame and thereby draw the jaws toward one another.

WILLIAM STIRLING MOORE.

